New funding has been allocated to help fix the water-level crisis that is threatening the Sankey Canal and its inhabitants.
Footage shared with the ECHO earlier this month showed the extent of the crisis that has seen the water level of the canal drop. Large fish had been left in just inches of water, and boats were being beached along the canal due to the low water levels.
Last week, hundreds of dead fish were seen floating in the shallow water, and dozens of people joined protests calling on the Halton Borough Council to "save the Sankey Canal." The council has now allocated £500,000 worth of funding, taken from their environmental fund, to try and fix the problem, which came to the attention of the public as early as May of this year.
READ MORE: Fish left dying in 'inches of water' as iconic beauty spot 'needs saving'
The lowering water levels have primarily been caused by the turning-off of pumps at Fiddlers Ferry power station in March, which pushed excess water into the canal, filling it. Temporary water pumps were then put in place, though they had been turned off by May.
The funding will be stretched out over the next five years, with £100,000 dedicated for the efforts of each year to deal with problems related to the canal. The funding will be used for a range of repairs needed within the canal's infrastructure, to seal the canal's locks to try to prevent it losing further water, as well as to fund an enhanced maintenance regime among other things.
It could also be used to fund feasibility studies into ways to save the canal. The works will begin immediately.
Lyndsey Byrne, from Hough Green, is one of the organisers of the Save our Sankey Canal group. She was also present last month as local people entered the water to save the canal's swan population, at risk due to the crisis.
She told the ECHO: "The funding is good news because it's a start. It's a good start but it's not going to solve the whole issue, because we still don't have a water supply. That's going to come next.
"It's possible that Halton Borough Council could eventually pump water into the canal, but to do that a lot of work would need to be done in the disused part of the canal, and also there would be maintenance costs.
"The £500,000 is only to pay for repairs, developments, to seal the locks, remove boats - but I believe that not many boats want removing anyway, so that shouldn't have a high cost - as well as for a maintenance regime and to fund feasibility studies.
"I feel like the £500,000 is enough for what it's meant for, at least I'm hoping it's enough for that- but with regards to the water supply, we're going to need a lot more money.
"And to open the disused part of the canal more funding is going to be needed for that, probably another £500,000.
"The funding came after the protests. It was like nothing could be done, and we've applied so much pressure that everybody amongst the council has had to look that bit harder, and that's when [the £500,000] became available, so I do think everything we've done has worked."
Halton Borough Council leader, Cllr Mike Wharton, said: "The Council wants to reassure residents and interest groups that we are committed to the long-term future of the canal and to finding sustainable solutions to the issues. This project will also improve the local landscape and help with nature conservation measures at Spike Island.”
A meeting concerning the future of the canal between councillors and those concerned is due to be held in three months time.
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